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Tuesday, July 28, 2015

If you’re in the Information Technology Sector, then you know that new technologies are born every day. Some say that students are being taught and trained for technology that hasn’t even been invented yet. Let’s look at some ways to stay on top of your job search as we’re zooming forward in our techno-world at warp speed.

Don’t go crazy. You might have heard the saying, “insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results”. If you’ve been on the job hunt for 6 months or more, using the same strategy with no results, then maybe it’s time to change your approach. If you’re looking only at IT-specific companies then you might be missing out on a large part of the job market. Just about everyone uses some sort of technology today. The retail sector, financial agencies, and higher education - you name it and there’s probably a computer involved. So, when you approach your job search keep your options open to the various different industries. To widen your vision, visit our Occupational & Industry Research page for some great ways to look deeper into various company backgrounds. Then, hop over to our Employer Research page to help identify companies that might be a good fit.

Say it with skills. IT recruiters look for specific information on resumes to help make it easy for them to identify applicants based on their technical knowledge and competencies. One of the easiest ways for you to make sure that you are highlighting these competencies is to include a list of your technical skills: Operating Systems, Databases, Computer Languages and Protocols, and Software knowledge and experience. These skills should be based on the job description and industry standards. A separate section for your certifications would also be a great idea. Check out the Getting a Job section of our website for more information on launching a successful job search.

Begin with the end. In Steven Covey’s, The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, he mentions that the second habit of moving from dependence to independence is to envision what you want (for your career) and then come to know concretely what to make a reality. What does your dream IT job look like and what will it take to get there? Career planning is a huge part of the answer. Mapping out your career path is a great way to manage your expectations and to achieve your professional goals. WGU Career & Professional Development is here to help with everything from resume development to interview skills to IT Professional Development opportunities. We’re just a click away!

Tuesday, July 14, 2015

By now we have all heard that networking is the key to a successful job
search – “it is not what you know but who you know.” Informational interviewing is a powerful (and underutilized) networking tool that can
jump-start your career. Review the 5 W’s and the How of informational interviewing and schedule your own informational interview today!

What?
An informational interview is an interview in which the goal is to
gather facts and opinions from someone with expertise and experience in a
specific field or position. It is important to remember that an
informational interview is NOT a job interview. They are investigative
opportunities for you to derive information about a job, company,
industry, career space or person. They are led by you as the
interviewer.

Why?
An informational interviews allow you to:

Explore your career options and clarify your goals

Learn more about an organization, their needs and the requirements for a particular job

Demonstrate professionalism, initiative and motivation to a
prospective employer by taking control of your job search by
interviewing an employer before you even apply a job!

Who?
Identify with whom you want to interview or what industry, company, or
specific position you are interested in learning more about. Once you
have an idea of with whom you want to talk to ask family, friends,
coworkers, students, alumni, and others in your immediate network if
they know of anyone they can put you in touch with. Don’t forget to
connect with people on LinkedIn, Facebook, Google+ and other social
networking sites. Also, by choosing WGU, you are now part of an international network of WGU students and alumni. Make sure to join the Western Governors University Student and Alumni group on LinkedIn and to check out the careers of fellow WGU Night Owls.

When?
There is no time like the present. Informational interviews are helpful
to conduct during career exploration or to utilize as a networking tool
during your job search.

Where?
Meeting at the interviewee’s work place is more convenient for your
interviewee and can also give you a better feel for the job and
organization. However, over the phone or via video conference are other
methods to consider, especially if you are conducting the informational
interview long distance.

How?
Send a brief email to the person you want to interview explaining your
background, career goals, interests and what you hope to gain from the
interview. Make sure you state clearly that you are just seeking
information – not a job. Request a 20-30 minute appointment .

Prepare for your informational interview as you would for a job
interview. Research the person you will be interviewing, their
profession and their company. This advanced research shows the
interviewee that you are professional and that you respect their time.
It also allows you to focus on acquiring information that is not readily
available through websites and company brochures.

Prepare questions to ask ahead of time and consider bringing a current
copy of your resume with you. However, only share your resume if the
person you are interviewing has expressed interest in seeing your
resume!

Show up to your appointment professionally dressed and on time. End the
interview by thanking the interviewee for their time and asking if there
are other people they suggest you talk to. This is a great way to grow
your professional network.

Send a thank you note within 24 hours of your interview thanking the
person for their time and briefly describing what you learned from the
interview. See if your interviewee is on LinkedIn and invite them to
join your network. In addition, send periodic updates on your career
progress and be sure to let them know if you apply for a position with
their company.